Otto Brothers store won the grand prize in the Christmas window contest conducted by the Marietta Advertising Club and was awarded the silver cup. They scored a total of 110 points. The W. A. Sniffen Company and the Becker Brothers Company were tied for second place, each receiving 105 points in the scoring. Forty-five Marietta mercantile establishments competed. Awarding of prizes followed the Advertising Club dinner at the Hotel Wakefield on Wednesday evening. More than 60 persons attended.
The Otto Brothers display made a perfect score. The following scale of points was used in judging: Originality, 25; balance and arrangement, 25; color harmony, 15; special lighting, 5; neatness, 15; Christmas spirit, 25.
Winners in the 10 classes, each of whom will receive an autographed photograph of his window suitable for framing, follow, the number of points scored and the name of the decorator being given in each instance:
1 - Department Stores - Otto Brothers, 110, George Bengel.
2 - Hardware - The A. M. Swan Company, 60, J. L. Johnson.
3 - Drugs - Kuehn & Sells, 85, Shirley Radekin.
4 - Jewelers - Baker & Baker, 90, Carl Dyche.
5 - Furniture - Stanley & Grass, 95, Mrs. Lottie Simpson.
6 - Miscellaneous - Glines Paint Store, 85, E. W. Glines.
7 - Clothing - The W. A. Sniffen Company, 105, Carl Jackson.
8 - Shoes - Kestermeier & Son, 90, Albert H. Kestermeier.
9 - Automobiles and Accessories - Becker Brothers Company, 105, Robert Otto.
10 - Chain Stores - Montgomery Ward & Company, 85, A. L. Peterson.
Will Be Annual Affair
This is the first of such contests to be held in the city and announcement was made by Harold Becker, president of the Marietta Advertising Club, that the contest is to be made an annual affair. The handsome silver cup presented as the grand prize must be won for three years (not successive) to become the property of any one concern. It is planned to hold the contest each year in conjunction with the unveiling of the Christmas windows, and Marietta merchants have shown a lot of interest in the project.
In his address before the club and its guests on Wednesday evening, President Becker said that show windows are the eyes of any business city, and have a large part in influencing visitors as first impressions are the ones that count with strangers. He congratulated the business men of the city on the fine spirit in which they have availed themselves of the opportunity to compete in this important field.
In order that the contest might be impartially judged and to procure worth-while criticism, the club decided to bring in an outside judge. They conferred with the national organization of decorators and E. W. Quintrell of Dayton was recommended. He has worked in like capacity in numerous other cities and is a recognized authority.
Praises Local Decorators
Mr. Quintrell is connected with the Elder & Johnson Company, one of the larger department stores at Dayton, and is a former officer of the national organization. He spent most of Wednesday in the city and worked tirelessly in scoring the 45 competing windows. In announcing the winners he spoke highly of the attainments of local decorators and congratulated Marietta on the calibre of its retail stores and upon the progressive spirit that dominates its merchants.
He said that the one general criticism that should be applied - and he declared that it is common in all cities - is that most decorators try to display too much merchandise in their windows. He urged that they use fewer pieces, grouping their displays in complete units and using spotlights to bring out the specials.
In Marietta, he said, there is a tendency to omit backgrounds from display windows. "The background is the same to a show window that the foundation is to a house," he told his auditors, "and it affords a base upon which to build a telling and appealing display."
Omit the Dead Colors
In decorating, especially for the holidays, Mr. Quintrell urged that black and dead colors be omitted. He would use green with a liberal use of holly and poinsettias and would let the Christmas spirit dominate. Cards should be used to explain or bring out the message that the decorator would get across. Above all else posters or foreign advertising must be eliminated.
He explained in some detail the grouping of displays into units. The larger the window the greater number of units that can be used although this is not necessarily essential. He praised one Marietta window of rather pretentious size where-in a single radio is displayed.
"Remember," he enjoined his auditors, "you don't have to use every inch of space in your window. Don't crowd."
Mac Henry, vice president of the club, made the presentation of the silver cup to Mr. Bengel of the Otto Brothers Company, then introduced the class winners, in each instance presenting the person who had arranged the display.
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